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Maximising Time. Better time management NQT Day 11/10/11 Andy Fitt – Assistant Principal, Itchen 6 th Form College (with thanks to Liz Petheram for ideas). When I was young my mother used to say to me, “To pay for your education, your father and I had to make a lot of sacrifices.”
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Maximising Time Better time management NQT Day 11/10/11 Andy Fitt – Assistant Principal, Itchen 6th Form College (with thanks to Liz Petheram for ideas)
When I was young my mother used to say to me, “To pay for your education, your father and I had to make a lot of sacrifices.” And it was true, because they were both druids. Milton Jones
Face facts – there will ALWAYS be more demands on your time than you can cope with:
So – let’s look at the areas that we can do something about:
Rarely is the question asked: “Is our children learning?” George W. Bush
Lesson Preparation - 1 • Are you using a clear structure for all your lessons? • Keep to these ideas and you’ll find planning gets quicker
Lesson Preparation - 2 • Talk to colleagues – get ideas from them and share resources – don’t reinvent the wheel each lesson! Keep your resources for the future.
Lesson Preparation - 3 • Ask for help – from your head of department/staff in your area/other NQTs/support staff/your NQT manager......
Lesson Preparation - 4 Make sure that the basics are working: • Start on time • Include a starter activity to allow latecomers to enter without disruption and also to allow you to do the register without being distracted • Structure your lesson so you leave enough time for a plenary • Finish promptly (so you can start the next lesson on time!)
“To those of you who received honours, awards and distinctions, I say, well done. And to the “C” students, I say, you too can be President of the United States” George W. Bush, commencement address to graduates of Yale University, 2001
Marking & Feedback - 1 • This is the most important part of your job BUT it doesn’t have to take all night! Ask yourself: • What do you need to assess? • Why are you assessing? • What do you need to feed back? • Is your feedback appropriate? • What will students act on? • Do you have to do the marking? • (use peer marking/Moodle etc)
Marking & Feedback - 2 Some strategies: • Assess content or skills • Monitor not mark • Using mini-whiteboards • Timed essays • Essay plans • Shorter pieces of work • Self or peer assessment with mark scheme • Student pre marking prior to submission • Mini tests • Cover sheets for targeted feedback • File checks
“Their homework is so hard these days ....... It’s totally done differently to what I was teached when I was at school.” David Beckham, on why he gave up trying to help his 6 year old son with his maths homework
College is breaking my spirit. Every single day, they’re telling me things I don’t know. It’s making me feel stupid. Marty, The Gilmore Girls
Planning Ahead - 1 Some strategies: Use a diary – all the time! (Outlook works well!) Put in all the college dates for the year TOMORROW Prioritise all your tasks – decide what HAS to be done by when (tip – prioritise initially by who asks for it – if the Principal asks for it, do it before everything else!) In your diary, backtrack and add an entry showing when you will do important tasks For example......................
Planning Ahead - 2 • Example: Put ALL these three dates in your diary!
Planning Ahead - 3 Keep looking at your scheme of work – this will help you plan sequences of lessons Check you know NOW when the exams for your subject will be Find out the dates for whole-college events that might stop you from teaching a class – add this into your planning
“This boy is every inch a fool but luckily for him he’s not very tall.” School report comment
Managing your time - 1 • Keep LISTS of things to do, otherwise you’ll forget. (I keep a folder on my computer marked “To Do” and then add dated lists i.e. “October 2011”) • DON’T check your emails every time you sit down at the computer – set yourself a time in the morning and a time in the evening to check these and stick to it • When you’ve got a lot to do focus on one task at a time and get it done. Set yourself a time limit.
Managing your time - 2 • Keep prioritising – your key task is to make sure the students can succeed – everything else should take a back seat! • Be logical – don’t spend 2 hours preparing a test that will be done in 10 mins and won’t really help you or the students that much. • And above all.............................................
Managing your time - 3 • Remember that YOU are your students’ greatest asset - Look after yourself: • eat well • get enough sleep • don’t work all the time • spend time with your family It’s a great job – and it does get easier!
Parent – Teacher Night: Let’s Share the Blame Banner hung above the entrance of Springfield Elementary School, The Simpsons